Key changed tumbler clamp



Nov. 4, 1958 2,858,691

' R. v| HOFFMAN KEY CHANGED TUMBLER CLAMP Filed Sept. 4. 1956 INVENTOR.

Ray L. Hoffman BY %W%%TYy KEY CHANGED TUMBLER CLAMP Ray L. Hoffman, Highland Heights, Ky., assignor to The Mosler Lock Company, Covington, Ky.

7 Application September 4, 1956, Serial No. 607,607

3 Claims. (Cl. 70-323) The present invention relates to permutation locks and is particularly directed to improvements in the key changed tumbler clamp constructions for said type of locks.

An object of this invention is to provide a well balanced key changed tumbler and clamp structure that will be efiective against manipulation by vibratory mechanisms applied to a lock equipped with said tumbler and clamp.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a key changed tumbler clamp that has a simplified and rugged one-piece clamp member which will not crush or mutilate the serrations on the inner tumbler ring when the clamp is made operative, yet will securely lock the tumbler rings against unauthorized release.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible clamp means for a key changed tumbler that will compensate for small manufacturing inaccuracies of theclamp parts to prevent mutilation of said parts.

Other objects and advantages 'will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged, front elevational view of the key, changed tumbler of this invention, a major portion of one part of the composite outer ring of the tumbler being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the tumbler shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail the numeral 4 generally indicates one of a number of tumblers that are presently used in combination or permutation locks and which are manually operable to control the movement of a bolt-operated fence, or the like. There is generally between three to five of these tumblers rotatably mounted in laterally spaced, operative positions on a tumbler post within the combination lock casing. Various combinations of the tumblers are to be secured by changing the angular positions of the centralizing ring on the inner ring of each tumbler on the post with' respect to the gatecarried by the outer ring of said tumbler. A releasable clamp is associated with each tumbler for operating the combination changing mechanism, an elongated key with a square shank permitting simultaneous actuation of the V clamps in all of the tumblers on the post.

The tumbler comprises an inner ring 5 formed with a concentric bearing hole 6 for rotatably receiving the post of a combination lock, said ring having serrations 7 formed on its peripheral portion. The usual centralizing ring 8 is mounted for oscillating movement in an annular recess 9 formed in one face of the inner ring member, whilst the opposed face has a stop lug 10 projecting at right angles therefrom for cooperation with the centralizing ring on the next adjacent tumbler on th post. 7

As most clearly shown in Fig. 3 the composite outer inner ring 5 and comprises two identically formed plates 11 and 12 provided with concentric bearing holes 13 and 14, respectively, which rotatably engage annular shoulders l5 and 16, respectively, formed in the inner ring 5 on opposite. sides of the serrations 7. A concentric row of angularly spaced apart rivets 17 holds the plates together, each rivet having a central and enlarged spacer portion 18 interposed between confronting faces of the plates to maintain the plates in fixed laterally spaced,

apart positions on the inner ring. Aligned notches 19 and 20 are formed in the peripheral portions of the plates 11 and 12, respectively, and provide a tumbler gate which cooperates with the usual bolt operated fence of the combination lock.

The means of this invention for maintaining the turnbler rings in angularly adjusted positions consists of a I resilient clamping ring 21 preferably constructed of anring member for the tumbler is rotatably mounted on the y nealed spring steel. This ring is positioned for reciprocating movement between the plates 11 and 12 and is spaced from and encircles the inner ring 5. The interior edge of the clamping ring is provided with a toothed portion 22 adapted to be selectively engaged with portions of the serrations 7 on the inner ring, the said toothed portion being bisected by a diameter of the clamping ring which also bisects a notched portion 23 in the clamping ring which registers with the aligned gate notches in the plates 11 and 12. with reference -to Fig. 1 that the clamping ring has a pair of enlarged counterbalance portions 24 and 25 located on opposite sides of, and equispaced from, the

notched portion 23 and that each portion has a slot 26- tively, and connect at their common ends with an en-.

larged portion 30 that is diametrically opposed to the toothed portion 22.

The means for operating the clamp comprises a cam element 31 having coaxial end bearing portions 32 and 33 that are rotatably received in holes 34 and 35, respectively, formed in the plates 11 and 12, respectively. The central part of the cam has a circular portion 36 eccentric With respect to the end bearing portions 32 and 33 and which is rotatably received in a hole 37 formed in the enlarged portion 30 of the clamping ring, a square hole 38 being formed laterally through the cam for the reception of the shank of an actuatin'g key for the tumbler clamp.

It will be noted with reference to Fig. 1 that the rotatable axis of the cam element 31 lies in the diametral line which centers the toothed portion 22, the enlarged portions 24 and 25 and the notched portion 23 of the clamping ring and that the enlarged portions are opposed to the eccentric cam element 31 thus substantially equalizing the distribution of weight around the tumbler axis to provide a well balanced tumbler and clamp construction that serves as an anti-vibratory feature of a lock, equipped with the tumblers of this invention.

Also with reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the eccentric portion 36 is positioned away from the center of the tumbler. In this cam position the toothed portion 22 of the flexible clamping ring is engaged forcefully with a portion of the serrations 7 on the inner ring 5, it being understood that the clamping ring is placed under a longitudinal stress by the said cam position so that the ring is out of round and sprung in the direction of the diameter of the tumbler which bisects the toothed portion 22 of the clamping ring and the axis of the cam element 31.

Tangential movement of the clamping ring is precluded It will also be noted- 1 3 by interposition of the plate spacer rivets 17 in the elongated clamp slots 26 and 27, said means however providing limited reciprocating movement of the ring in the direction of'release and clamping movement of the clamp-- ing ring. Thus the outer and inner'ring of the tumbler are securely-clamped together and the clamp-cannot be loosened bymeans of vibratory'devices applied to the lock by unauthorized persons.

To render the clamp means inoperative it-is only necessary to rotate the cam about 180 from its position shown in Fig. 1 by the use of a key, whereat the toothed portion 22 of the clamping ring will be released from the serrated periphery 7 of the inner ring, the clamping ring then assuming an unstressed position as it will then be free of flexing stresses, from the cam. The tumbler combination may then be changed by relatively rotating the inner and outer rings and the tumbler parts are thereafter reclamped by again operating the. eccentric cam with the key.

While a particular embodiment of the invention is shown, it will be understood that it is not desired to be limited thereto since modifications can be made therein which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A key changed tumbler including an inner ring having a serrated peripheral portion, an outer ring rotatable on the inner ring, a closed ring clamp carried by the outer ring and encircling the inner ring, a toothed portion on the inner edge of the ring clamp for releasably engaging the serrated peripheral portion of the inner ring, and an eccentric cam journaled in the outer ring and operatively engaging the ring clamp at aposition diametrically opposite the toothed portion whereby upon rotation of the cam the movement of the ring clamp will mesh and release the toothed portion with respect to the serrated peripheral portion on the inner ring.

2. A key changed tumbler including an inner ring having a serrated peripheral portion, an outer ring rotatable on the inner ring, a closed ring clamp carried by the outer ring and encircling the inner ring, a toothed portion formed on the inner edge of the ring clamp for releasably engaging the serrated peripheral portion of the inner ring, said ring clamp having an annular hole formed therethrough in a position diametrically opposed to the toothed portion of the ring clamp, a cam journalled in the outer ring and having an eccentric portion rotatable in the hole for operatively placing the closed ring clamp under diametral stress to clamp the toothed portion of the closed ring against the, serrated peripheral portion of the inner ring.

3. A key changed tumbler comprising an inner ring having a serrated peripheral portion, an outer ring having a pair of laterally spaced, connected plates rotatably mounted on the inner ring, a closed ring clamp constructed of resilient material surrounding the inner ring and mounted for reciprocating movement between the plates, a toothed portion on the inner edge of the ring clamp for releasably engaging the serrated peripheral portion of the inner ring, a pair of enlarged portions on the ring clamp adjacent to and equispaced on opposite sides of the toothed portion, an eccentric cam journalled in the plates of the outer ring and having an intermediate portion operatively engaging the ring clamp at a position I diametrically opposite the toothed portion whereby upon rotation of the cam the movement of the ring clamp will mesh and release the toothed portion with respect to the serrated peripheral portion of the ring clamp, each of said enlarged portions having an elongated slot formed i therein extending parallel to the center line of the toothed portion and the eccentric cam, and guide pins-anchored in the spaced plates andeach having its intermediate portion receivable in a slot.

References Citedin the file of this patent 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 901,116 Murphy Oct. 13, 1908 1,193,754 Benham Aug. 8, 1916 1,484,692 Weber Feb. 26, 1924 1,644,650 Millice Oct. 4, 192.72

FOREIGN PATENTS 426,272 Germany Mar. 9,1926 

